Epicyclic drive



Patented May 2, 1950 EPICYCLIC DRIVE Lindsay H. Browne, Westport, Conn., assignor to American BrakeShoe Company, a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1946, Serial No. 698,154

18 Claims.

This application relates to improvements in 4Epicyclic drives and is a continuation in part of 'copending application Serial No. 503,241, led

September 21, 1943, now Patent No. 2,427,253, dated September 9, 1947.

An object of the present invention is the provision of an epicyclic drive which can be di- 'rectly connected to a prime mover, and adapted to transform the rotary motion Vof said prime mover into reciprocative motion at reduced speed, said reciprocations being in denite time relation to said rotary motion.

In the earlier application the subject matter related to an epicyclic drive in which an outwardly facing inner race was driven by the prime lmover, and maintained in eccentric relation to f this race was an inwardly facing outer race. Be-

tween and in rolling contact with these races was a single ball or roller, and the means for maintaining the races in eccentricity also maintained the ball or roller in rolling contact with -the races. However, in such an arrangement a member reciprocated by the outer race was not maintained in any definite timed relation to the rotation of the prime mover shaft.

According to the present invention, the rotary member is positively connected to the reciprocative member by means of gearing and consequently there is no chance for any of the ele- 'rst pinion at the points -of greatest eccen- -tricity.

A further object of the invention is the provision in an epicyclic drive, of a hollow housing having a pair of spaced internal gears therein, a shaft maintained in eccentric relation to said internal gears, a pinion on said shaft and 'lying on a plane cutting the space between said internal gears, a second pinion meshing with said rst pinion and of such diameter that it extends between Ysaid internal gears, a smaller pinion positioned on one side of and driven by 'said second pinion and meshing with one of said internal gears, and a second smaller pinion positioned on the opposite side of and driven by said second pinion and meshing with the'other of 55 The ring member 3l has a counterbore 35 said internal gears, thereby providing a drive embodying compound reduction between the rotary speed of a prime mover connected to said shaft and a reciprocative member -associated with said hollow housing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a study of the following speciflcationand the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of an epicyclic drive given by way of example to illustrate the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation as seen on a central vertical plane extending through the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a, sectional elevation taken along the lines 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of -a modication of the arrangement shown in Figure 2 wherein the drive is compounded to obtain a greater reduction in the ratio between the high speed rotary drive and the reciprocative driven member;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation as seen along the lines 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken along the lines 6-6 of Figure 4.

Referring rst to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a shaft I0 of a prime mover such as an electric motor II, has keyed thereto, by means of a key I2, a sleeve I3 having gear teeth I4 formed therein intermediate the ends thereof. A rotor I5 has bosses I6 and I'I in alignment with one another, and a hole I8 therein forms a, working t on the sleeve member I3. Formed integral with the bosses I6 and I1 is an intermediate eccentric portion I9 having a transverse slot 20 formed there- .in intermediate the ends thereof, said slot terminating along a line to form a iiat surface 2l thereby providing spaced eccentric portions 22 and 23 having -aligned holes 24 and 25 respectively formed therein.

Forming a press t in the holes 24 and 25 is a pin 26.

A pinion 21 preferably has formed integral therewith hubs 28 and 29, and a hole 30 formed therein forms a Working iit on the pin 26.

A ring member 3l has a bore 32 formed therein and forming a working iit on the eccentric portion I9. A second ring member 33, similar to the ring member 3|, has a bore 34 formed therein which also forms a working t on the eccentric portion I9.

formed therein and the ring member 33 has a corresponuding counterbore 3S formed therein and positioned in these counterbores is an internal ring gear 31. The thickness of the ring gear 3l is preferably greater than the combined depths of the counterbores 35 and 35 so that when the ring members 3i andiareclamped together by means of screws, such as the. screw 38 passing through the ring member 33 engaging threaded holes such as the threaded hole 39a' formed in the ring member 3l, a unitary structure is formed.

The aligned holes 24 and; iai-formed inftheece centric portion i9 preferablyyhave their centers' lying on a radial plane cutting the eccentric portion at its point of greatest. eccentrioity. The

pitch circle of the pinion 2Ti`s' tangent'to b'oth the pitch circle of the teeth I4 formedeonthef sleeve i3 and the pitchicircle of the teeth formed inthe internal tring gear.- 31.y

The. ring member 3i hasga counterbore i0 formed initsiface opposite. theqconnterbore 35, andpositioned in said counterbore is a disc @i which has an eccentric hole liformed therein and engagingytheexternalsurface of the boss i?. Likewise'thering memberhas a counterhore 43. formed. therein to, accommodate. a disc. LM which has an eCcentr-icholeASformed therein to engage the surface otthe-fboss4` l. The. boss I1 has agroove` formeditherein toaccomniodate a snapring 4S: for retaining thefdisc M in the counterbore di). Likewise the boss I6 hasffa'- groove -formed thereinto accommodate alsnapring l1 for retainingl the. disclM, in the connterbore 43.

Referring now to Figures 4; 5,-, and 6, a shaft 48, which may be--driven-by-any source of power, carries a key 59. Keyed tolther shaft iii by means of the key 4S `is asleeve-twhich hasgear. teeth 5i formedl therein intermediate theendsfthereof. A member 52-.has aligned .bossesaEf-andt, and an intermediatefecoentric :portion: 55: formed integral therewith, andA a= holee'` therethrough forms a working t on the outer surfaceioi the sleeve member Ell-.4Y Y y Formed in thezeccentric. portior1 ..55 .isf-a slot 5l whichterm-in-ateson aiinei as shown in zFigures 5 and 6, dividing, theinpper. portion ofthe eccentric into spaced.webs.-59,- and@Y These webs lhave Yaligned holes Si land. 62 formed therein, yand a pin 63v is Amountedain.these-holes with a forced iit. A triplepinionconsistseof a central pinion 64 of one diameter-,"withsmaller. pinions 65 andtion each side; thereof; These pinions have a centralhole 6Fl Vformedtherein which hole vforms a workinr/fitA on .the pin 63.-.. The central p in-ionlimeshes with the-teeth 5i formedin .the sleeve memberil).A

A ring memberGaehassacounterbore ilformed therein Yand a second ringeV member 7U; has a counterbore 'H formed therein.l These counter-.- bores face eachother and-positioned..therein are internal gear rings 'l2 and 'lewith .a-,spacer Vring ittherebetween...v The sumfotthe depthsfo-the 5 internal gears 12 and 'I3 are identical so it will be seen that the use of two pinions 65 and 68 is merely to. produce abalanced arrangement as obviouslyfthe drive would; function'. in substantially the same manner if, for example, the pinlilf ion 66 and the internal gear 12 were omitted.

Since the pinion 64 is driven at a reduced speed bythe teeth 5I, and since the pinions :'55 and 65 arefsmallerrinV diameter, and since they in turn driveitheinternalflgears 12 and 73, I have provided a compoundj reduction between the sleeve member, 5,6 andthe ring members and. 70 whihi'ncientally are secured together by means of; screws 15 clamping the ring member ES and 10, and the internal gears 12, i3, and the sleeve lll,.together to 'form a unitary structure.

A-.clisc tsimilar to the disc M is positioned in. a counterbore Vlrfermedgin the ringv4 member 68. andiis lretained.-therein byf meansof a. snap ring 18 snapped into a'groove formed :inthe boss 544, A similar: disc.19=is.positioned in the counterbore 8&1. formed inzthe ring-.member 1i) and is retained thereinby meansofafsnap ring Si engaging a groove.Y formed inltheboss 53a Ineach .of ther above modicationsif the uniratary structure. -coinprisedzof the-,ringsfS-l andl33 of Figure 2, with the .internalgear 3-1 clamped therebetween, or Ithe:unitaryistructure vof Figure 4.-.cornprised' of thefrings 681- andy 76 with :the finternaliringfs V"l2: and-.71%. ahd-lthesspa'eer ring.. i4

35.are held, against-rotation; they move on an orbital .path and -reciprocatory-motion mayfbe im partedfto.anyjmernbein connected vthereto in any suitableA mannen. One. means for. preventing these structuresxfrom rotating,v isshown in Figioiureslandz andrcomprisesa lever8`2 having one endjournaled. oniafstud 3S whichfisrforced into a hole-,84 formed1in the ring-..memberl Eiland. the other end' connected to za `bossathrough a vpivot 86. The boss; 85-:may .--have arbase-Bfipositively secured-to asnpport 88,.

l InthefmodificationishownineFigures 4,5, and 6,; the stud Stais-pressedlintoalhole tdci-.and the leiverldz-is pivotallyconnectedto a stud 83a; the otherien'd ofthe fleverrmayybe treated 'inthe-same manner as described in connectioniwith .Figures In eithert oi. thee modiications herein` shown .and-.described the drive may becarried on frictionless :bearingssin-a suitable:support.r As Y- such .anarrangement-'isshownz-in Figurez, it is not believed necessaryto. repeat-theA showing in 'Figure-.45., v

-Accordingtdliiigure25a-.frictionless bearing.A 89

hasfits innerrraceeBrengaginggthe bossslS, a-leg 50 Si of a support extends parallel to the drivef` and isfcounterboredrto. .'aicconrimodafter;theouter race 43.2g .of the zball.pbearingge.1` j Likewisetheboss l1 -supportszfthef inner z race. im of ai vball bearingA S3. The; sup-port.- may .have fazasecond. extension 95 paraiiel to the. sid-es'ao-f :the .drivezand:this-upport mayfbe =counterboredito:.accommodatez the outer .race to'rtheballbearingi: Since the counterboresin theeleg's 9'Ii :and dvfaceae'ach other 'itlis vol'nvious .that .it 1 is :.1-neceesar'yithat .at least f one of them :berremovablyrcarried :on the: main.- support inzorder yto get .the'bearingsfintothe-:counterb'ores when theyfarefpositionedpon. thefdrivefgaseshown. lAltli'ongl'litI. haveEherei'neshowrnaand described, ib-y way:-oi;exampienonefxembodimentzof the:.iin

vention and a modication thereof, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the arrangements herein shown and described within the -scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. In an epicyclic drive, a shaft forming a driving member, a pinion movablewith said shaft, a

hollow housing having an internal gear fixed therein and at least one annular surface concentric with and axially spaced apart from said internal gear, said housing constituting a driven member, said pinion and said internal gear being vorbital path about said shaft at a speed less than the speed of said shaft when the latter is rotated.

2. In an epicyclic drive, a member adapted to be connected to a prime mover and forming a driving member, a pinion fixed on said member and movable therewith, a hollow housing having an internal gear fixed therein in alignment with said pinion and annular surfaces concentric with and positioned on either side of said gear, said housing constituting a driven member, an eccentric member having a bearing therein journaled on said shaft and having an exterior surface engaging said annular surfaces for maintaining said drive member and said driven member in eccentric relation, a, second pinion `journaled in said eccentric member between and meshed with vsaid rst mentioned pinion and said internal gear, and means for restraining said housing against rotation, thereby causing said driven member to move in an orbital path about said driving member at a speed less than the speed of said driving member when the latter is rotated.

3. In an epicyclic drive, a shaft forming a driving member, a pinion movable with said shaft, an internal gear in alignment with said pinion, supporting means to which saidA gear is secured, means cooperating with said shaft and said gear for maintaining them in eccentric relationship, pinion means supported by said last means and meshing with both said pinion and said internal gear, and means restraining said supporting means and said gear against rotation.

4. In an epicyclic drive, a hollow housing having an internal gear xed therein and an annular surface concentric with and axially spaced apart from said internal gear, said housing constituting a driven member, a shaft parallel to the axis of said gear, a pinion on said shaft in alignment with said gear, means journaled on said shaft and in said annular surface for maintaining said pinion and said internal gear in eccentric relation with each other, pinion means rotatably supported on said last means and meshing with both said pinion and said internal gear, and means for restraining said housing against rotation, thereby causing the latter to move on an orbital path as said pinion is rotated.

5. In an epicyclic drive, a hollow housing having an inwardly facing internal gear secured therein, aligned holes formed in said housing concentric with each other and having their axes coinciding with the axis of said internal gear, a shaft having its axis parallel to the axes of said holes, a pinion formed on said shaft in alignment With said internal gear, an eccentric body journaled on said shaft and journaled in said aligned holes `for maintaining said internal gear and said pinion in eccentric relation with each other, means forming a cavity` in saidl eccentric body, said cavity extending to thel point of greatest eccentricity, pinion means rotatably supported in said cavity and meshing with both said pinion and said internal gear and means restraining said housing against rotation, thereby causing said hollow housing to oscillate as said shaft is rotated.

6. In an epicyclic drive, a reciprocative member having an interior annular bore, an internal ring gear secured in said member intermediate the ends of said annular bore, said gear having its pitch circle concentric with said bore, a shaft vhaving its axis parallel to the axis of said bore,

a series of teeth formed on said shaft and constituting a pinion, said pinion being in alignment with said internal gear, means journaled on said shaft and in said bore for maintaining said shaft and said bore in eccentric relation to each other,

and a second pinion journaled in said last mentioned means and having its pitch circle tangent to both the pitch circle of said first pinion and said ringgear, the axis of the pitch circle of said second pinion lying on a, radial line extending from the point of greatest eccentricity of said means to the center of said shaft.

'7. An epicyclic drive according to claim 6, in which said reciprocative member is comprised of a pair of counterbored ring members rigidly secured together with said counterbores engaging an annular internal ring gear.

8. The invention according to claim 6, in which said means journaled on the vshaft and in said bore constitutes an eccentric member the interior bore of which is journaled on said shaft and the exterior surface of which is journaled in said bore, said eccentric member having a clearance cavity formed therein and extending from the point of greatest eccentricity to a point substantially below the point where the pitch circles of both said pinions are tangent, thereby providing substantial clearance for said second pinion.

9. In an epicyclic drive, a member adapted to be connected to a prime mover and forming 'a driving member, a pinion on said member and movable therewith, a hollow housing having an internal gear xed therein in alignment with pinion and annular surfaces concentric with and positioned on either side of said internal gear, said housing constituting a driven member, means connected to said driven member restraining it against rotation, an eccentric member having a bearing therein journaled on said shaft and having an exterior surface engaging said annular surfaces for maintaining said drive member and said driven member in eccentric relation said member having bosses on both ends concentric with the bearing therein and having grooves formed therein in spaced relation to the ends of said eccentric member, a second pinion journaled in said eccentric member between and meshed with said first mentioned pinion, and said internal gear, closure discs mounted on said bosses to enclose said eccentric member and the interior of said hollow housing, said discs having holes therein eccentric with the outer diameters thereof and tting said bosses, and snap rings in each of said grooves for retaining said discs on said bosses.

10. In an epicyclic drive, a hollow housing having an internal gear fixed therein and an annular bore on either side thereof and concentric there- With, said housing constituting a driven member, means connected to said housing for restraining it against, rotation, a shaft comprising a driving 

